In the past 10 years, Marc Weiss, a chef who combines his cooking skills with music, went from reaching out to network TV stations with a bold idea to having the producers come looking for him.

Weiss, who started out as a disc jockey before he began a career in the food service industry, initially came up with the novel idea for an “MTV-style cooking show,” with a party-like atmosphere in the kitchen where he could showcase both his culinary talents and DJ skills.

“I’m the only entertainer who simultaneously cooks and DJs for special events and private parties,” Weiss said.

He called himself DJ Chef and launched a website in order to pitch a TV pilot and attract the attention of producers. But others soon took notice as well.

“My clients actually saw the website and they said, ‘DJ Chef, this is cool. How come we don’t get the DJ [part] when you cook?’” Weiss said. “So I’m like, ‘you know what, I’m

trying to get this going let me just start doing it.’”

The 40-year-old Weiss went with the idea and said it took off; he has become known for spinning and cooking at soirees for celebrities like Christie Brinkley. And as DJ Chef, he’s become something of a celebrity himself, having appeared on countless TV programs including Food Network’s “What’s Hot! What’s Cool!,” Discovery Channel’s “Party Planner” and Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.” During the latter appearance, he prepared an apple, honey-glazed chicken and played tunes while working his turntables, at times alternating between cooking and scratching alongside co-host Rosanna Scotto.

Now, the Long Beach native will appear on Food

Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” this Sunday, a show where four chefs each receive $25,000 and the opportunity to spend the money on helping themselves or sabotaging their competitors. The best-tasting dish wins the chef his or her prize.

Weiss said that he’s up to the challenge of a competition that requires chefs to be “crafty, clever and creative.” And don’t let the turntables fool you — though Weiss has traveled as far as Dubai to make appearances as DJ Chef, his association with food goes back generations.